Sliding door operating mechanism



Aug. 29, 1967 R. J. OLANDER 3,33 REM SLIDING DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 23, 1965 I F79. .Z Li

5 Sheets-$heet l INVENTOR fia/ana rf O/anae/ WZ Q Aug. 29, 1967 R. J. OLANDER 3,337,94

SLIDING DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Oct. 25, 1965 5 Sheets-$heet 2 W Rd w m mph 5 h w, d M w M 5m 4 Aug. 29, 1967 R. J. OLANDER 3,337,994

' SLIDING DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Filed 001. 23, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Po /a'/7d (Z /anaer W Maw- United States Patent 3,337,994 SLIDING DOOR OPERATING MECHANISM Roland J. Olander, La Grange, Ill., assignor to W. H. Miner Inc., Chicago, III., a corporation of Delaware Filed Oct. 23, 1965, Ser. No. 503,318 Claims. (Cl. 49-219) My present invention relates generally to sliding door operating mechanisms and has particular reference to sliding door support and latch mechanisms adapted for use, for example, in connection with the doors of refrigerator cars and trailers.

On refrigerator cars and the like, it is common practice to use a sliding door whereby a plug action can be obtained in the closed position and longitudinal sliding can be achieved after the door has been unplugged. A door of this type requires a mechanism which will operate in such a manner as to first move the door outward from the car body, and then permit sliding of the door away from the- .door frame to uncover the opening therein. The mechanism should also provide means for latching the door to the car body when the door is in a closed position. As will be appreciated by those acquainted with the art, the opening and closing of a door, as described above, can be a difiicult task, and usually requires a complicated operating mechanism comprised of numerous components.

It is an object of my present invention to provide a simple, efiicient, and economical sliding door operating mechanism adapted for use, for example, on refrigerator car doors and the like.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a sliding door mechanism wherein simple and eflicient actuating means is employed for prying the door partly open and moving it away from the door opening to a fully open position, and for returning the same to the door opening.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a sliding door operating mechanism whereby the door may first be moved outward from the door opening, and then moved longitudinally to uncover the door opening.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a sliding door operating mechanism whereby the door can be latched to the car body when the door is in a closed position.

It is another object of my present invention to provide a sliding door operating mechanism whereby the door can be unlatched from the car body and simultaneously pried out of the door opening.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide sliding door operating mechanism comprising: a vertical hollow operating shaft rotatably mounted on the door and having secured thereto an operating lever and also keeper engaging means selectively engageable with keeper means mounted above and below the door opening for latching the door in closed position; and a shaft extending coaxially through the hollow shaft and being secured at its ends in movable throw-out arms supported along guide means mounted above and below the door opening.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide a sliding door operating mechanism whereby the door in its open position can be locked by auxiliary latch means to the throw-out supporting arms.

It is a further object of my present invention to provide one embodiment of sliding door operating mechanism wherein the auxiliary latch means is carried by the hollow operating shaft and is actuated by means confined within the operating lever.

It is a still further object of my present invention to provide a sliding door mechanism wherein the movement of one operating lever can accomplish all of the required opening, closing and latching operations.

333 Patented Aug. 29, 1967 Now in order to acquaint those skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and using sliding door operating mechanisms in accordance with the principles of my present invention, I shall describe in connection with the accompanying drawings preferred embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a fragmentary and foreshortened elevational view of a wall, a door, and one embodiment of sliding door operating mechanism incorporating the principles of my present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a fragmentary elevational view, on an enlarged scale, of the operating handle and of the lower portion of the sliding door operating mechanism of FIG- URE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially along the line 3-3 in FIGURE 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 4 is a vertical sectional view, taken substantially along'the line 44 in FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 5 is a sectional view, taken substantially along the line 55 in FIGURE 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary elevational view of the handle and of the lower portion of another embodiment 'of'sliding door operating mechanism incorporating the principles of my present invention; and

FIGURE 7 is a horizontal sectional view, taken substantially along the line 7-7 in FIGURE 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, there is indicated by the reference numeral 10 a wall, such as a side wall of a refrigerator car, having an opening 12 in which is disposed a door 14. The door 14 is adapted to be moved laterally into and out of the door opening 12, and when withdrawn from the door opening is adapted to be moved lengthwise of the car. Since the door 14 is of the convetnional type used in refrigerator cars and the like, and does not itself constitute part of my present invention, further details of the door construction are believed to be unnecesary. It will be noted that two sliding door operating mechanisms, incorporating the principles of my present invention, are used on the door 14, each mechanism being will be understood that the description applies to both mechanisms.

Suitably secured to the side wall 10 above and below the door opening 12 are upper and lower horizontal guide tracks 16 and The upper track 16 (FIGURE 3) preferably is an in- 18 which extend lengthwise of the car.

verted U-shaped channel member. The lower track 18 (FIGURE 4) preferably is in the form of a conventional rail. Vertically extending operating means, in the form of a hollow shaft or pipe 20, is mounted on the door 14 by means ofbrackets 22, and is rotatable about a vertical axis. Extending coaxially through, and projecting outwardly of the ends of, the hollow shaft 20 is an inner shaft or pipe 24. Upper and lower throw-out arm members 26 and 28, at their one ends, are provided with vertical openings 30 (FIGURE 5) in which are secured, as by welding, the opposite ends of the inner shaft 24. The aim members 26 and 28, at their other ends, are each provided with vertical pin portions 32 (FIGURES 2 and 3). The pin 32 of the upper arm member 26 has rotatably mounted thereon a roller 34 which engages the inner side walls of the upper guide track 16. The pin 32 of the lower arm member 28 is rotatably disposed in an opening 36 formed in a carriage 38 having rollers 40 that engage the upper edge of the lower guide track 18. The throw-out arm members 26 and 28 are thus mounted for both lengthwise movement along the guide tracks 16 and 18 and swinging movement relative thereto. Also, as will be evident, the door 14 is supported on the tracks 16 and 18 by the throw-out arms 26 and 28, and is guided into and out of the door opening 12 by the throw-out arms in their swinging movement. The hollow operating shaft 20, at its upper and lower ends, has secured thereon, as by welding, keeper engaging members or cams 42 and 44 having lateral extensions which are arranged to cooperate with keeper members 46 and 48 which are suitably secured to the wall above and below the door opening 12. When the cams 42 and 44 are respectively engaged with the keeper members 46 and 48, the door 14 is latched or locked in closed position within the door opening 12.

Auxiliary latch means, which I shall now describe, is provided for latching or locking the door 14 to the lower throw-out arm member 28 whereby to permit conjoint movement of the door and the throw-out arm members without relative movement therebetween. In this connection, as best shown in FIGURES 2 and 5, the end of the lower throw-out arm member 28, adjacent the opening 30, is provided with a projection 50 having an upper horizontal face 52 and a vertical side face 54, and a lug extension 56 having a vertical side face 58. The two side faces 54 and 58 define therebetween a channel-like area 60. The adjacent lower cam 44 is formed with an upper flange 62 that is engaged by the lower flange 64 of the lower mounting bracket 22 whereby a bearing surface is provided therebetween. The cam 44 is also formed with a lower flange 66 which bears on the shoulder 25 on shaft 24 and is provided with an arcuate slot 68. Extending vertically along the operating shaft 20 is an auxiliary elongated latch member or rod 70. The lower ofiset end portion of the latch member 70 extends through and is guided by the arcuate slot 68 of the cam 44, and the lower end extremity of the latch member 70 terminates adjacent the horizontal face 52 of the projection 50. Rotation of the operating shaft 20 and actuation of the latch member 70 are adapted to be effected by handle means 71 comprising a first section or lever mounting bracket 72 suitably secured to the operating shaft 20 and having a pair of laterally extendingparallel arm portions 74. Pivotally mounted at the outer ends of the bracket arm portions 74, as by a horizontal pin member 76, is the one end of a second handle section or handle lever 78. The upper end of the latch member 70, which is formed with a transverse slot 80, extends into the confines of the bracket arm portions 74. The main body section of a latch lifter 82 is pivotally mounted, on a horizontal pin member 84, between the bracket arm portions 74. The latch lifter 82 includes a pair of leg portions 86 and 88, with the lower leg portion 88 projecting through the slot 80 of the latch member 70. The inner end of the handle lever 78 is provided with two projecting lugs 90 and 92. The upper lug 90 is arranged to engage the top of the body section of the latch lifter 82 when the handle lever 78 is pivoted upwardly for causing the legs 86 and 88 of the latch lifter 82 to pivot upwardly and thereby lift the latch member 70 to the position shown in FIGURE 2. When the handle lever 78 is pivoted downwardly, the lower lug 92 is arranged to engage the bottom of the body section of the latch lifter 82 for causing the legs 86 and 88 to pivot downwardly and thus urge the latch member 70 downwardly.

To open the door 14, the handle lever 78 is swung, in a generally horizontal plane, outwardly from the door 14 approximately 90 thereby rotating the operating shaft 20 in the mounting brackets 22 and relative to the inner shaft 24. The operating shaft 20 imparts its rotation to the cams 42 and 44 whereby the latter is disengaged from their respective keeper members 46 and 48 and simultaneously pry the door 14 partly out of the door opening 12. The disengaging camming action also forces the throw-out arm members 26 and 28 to swing partially outwardly from the wall 10 whereby the door 14 is completely withdrawn from the door opening 12, with the door resting on the lower arm 28 and the carriage 38. Additionally, as the operating shaft 20 is rotated, the lower end of the latch member 7i)v slides over the horizontal face 52 of the lower arm 28 until it engages the side face 58 of the lug extension 56 on the lower throw-out arm member 28. Thereafter, further horizontal movement of the handle lever 78 causes the throw-out arm members 26 and 28 to be swung or pivoted to their full forwardly extending position whereby to move the door 14 sufliciently away from the wall 10 to provide adequate clearance therebetween. The handle lever 78 is, then pivoted downwardly causing the lower handle 92 to engage the body portion of the latch lifter 82 for pivoting the same about the pin member 84. As the latch lifter 82 thus pivots, the upper leg portion 86 thereof forces the latch member 70 downwardly causing the lower end portion thereof to enter the channel 60 of the lower throw-out arm member 28. In this position of the latch member 70, the operating shaft 20 is latched to the throwout arm member 28, and relative movement between the door 14 and the throw-out arm members 27 and 28 is prevented. The door 14 may then be slid lengthwise of the car wall 10, with the throw-out arms 26 and 28 being guided by the tracks 16 and 18, to a position entirely clear of the door opening 12.

In closing the door 14, it is slid back along the tracks 16 and 18 until the door is approximately aligned with the door opening 12. Next, the handle lever 78 is swung back to a position generally normal to the wall 10 until the door 14 is closely adjacent the door opening 12. During this swinging movement of the handle lever 78, the lower end portion of the latch member 70 engages the side face 54 of the projection 50 for swinging the throw-out arm members 26 and 28 inwardly toward the wall 10. The handle lever 78 is then pivoted upwardly to effect movement of the latch member 70 and release of the lower end portion thereof from the channel 60 in the lower throwout arm member 28. As the handle lever 78 is swung in a final movement against the door 14, the operating shaft 20 is rotated to an extent engaging the earns 42 and 44 with the keeper members 46 and 48. The door 14 is thus again locked within the door opening 12.

Referring now to FIGURES 6 and 7, I shall describe another embodiment of sliding door operating mechanism which incorporates the principles of my present invention and which is similar to the mechanism of FIGURES 1-5 except primarily in respect to the form of auxiliary latch means. Primed reference numerals have been used to identify the parts that are the same of similar to those of the mechanism shown in FIGURES 1-5. In place of the cam 44, I provide a cam 94 which is positioned on the operating shaft 20 to rest on the throw-out arm 28 and to be engaged by the lower mounting bracket 22'. The cam 94 is formed with a lateral projection 96 in which is provided a vertical arcuate slot 98. Extending through and slidably guided by the arcuate slot 98 is the vertical leg portion of an auxiliary latch member 100. The lower end of the latch member 100, which normally rests on the horizontal face 52 of the projection 50, drops into the channel portion 60' when the operating shaft 20 is rotated by the handle means 71' to open the door. When closing the door, the upper horizontal flange of the latch member 100 is grasped and moved upwardly for withdrawing the lower end of the latch member from the channel 60'. The latch member 100 serves the same function as the latch member 70, but is not actuated by the handle means 71. In all other essential respects, the mechanism of FIG- URES 6 and 7 functions in the same manner as the mechanism of FIGURES 1-5. A small bolt or screw 102, secured in the bottom mounting bracket 22', prevents the latch member 100 from becoming accidentally displaced from the slot 98.

While I have shown and described what I believe to be preferred embodiments of my present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various rearrangements and modifications may be made therein Without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. For use with a vertical wall having an opening therein and a door movable into and out of the opening, the combination of horizontal guide means mounted on the wall above and below the opening, vertically extending operating means comprising a hallow shaft mounted on the door and rotatable about a vertical axis, handle means for selectively rotating said hollow shaft, upper and lower throw-out arm members, upper and lower carriage means engaging said guide means for lengthwise movement therealong and pivotally mounting the one ends of said throw-out arm members, shaft means extending coaxially through said hollow shaft and fixedly secured at its opposite ends to the other ends of said throw-out arm members to support the door while accommodating relative movement between the door and said throw-out arm members, upper and lower keeper means mounted on the wall, upper and lower keeper engaging means fixed to said hollow shaft and being selectively engageable with said keeper means for maintaing the door within the opening, and auxiliary latch means for selectively locking the door to at least one of said throw-out arm members comprising a vertical channel in said one throw-out arm member and latch means comprised of a vertically movable latch member operatively connected to said hollow shaft and selectively movable into and out of locking engagement with said channel portion whereby to permit conjoint movement of the door and said throw-out arm members without relative movement therebetween.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said keeper engaging means is comprised of keeper engaging members secured to said hollow shaft with one of said keeper engaging members having a vertical guide opening therethrough, and wherein said vertically movable latch member is slidable in said vertical guide opening of said keeper engaging member and is selectively movable into and out of locking engagement with said channel.

3. The combination of claim 1 wherein said vertically movable latch member is mounted along said operating means and is engageable at its lower end with said one throw-out arm member, and latch lifter means cooperating with the upper end of said latch member for selectively effecting vertical movement thereof.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein said handle means is comprised of a first section secured to said hollow shaft and a second section pivotally mounted to said first section, and wherein said latch lifter means is pivotally mounted within the confines of said first handle section and pivotal movement of said second handle section serves to effect actuation of said latch lifter means.

5. For use with a vertical wall having an opening therein and a door movable into and out of the opening, the combination of horizontal guide means mounted on the wall above and below the opening, a vertically extending hollow shaft mounted on the door and rotatable about a vertical axis, handle means for selectively rotating said hollow shaft, said handle means including a first section secured to said hollow shaft and a second section pivotally mounted to said first section, throw-out arm members, means engaging said guide means for lengthwise movement therealong and pivotally mounting the one ends of said throw-out arm members, a shaft extending coaxially through said hollow shaft and being secured at its opposite ends to the other ends of said throw-out arm members whereby the door is supported by said throw-out arm members while relative movement between the door and said throw-out arm members is accommodated, keeper members mounted on the wall above and below the opening, keeper engaging members secured to said hollow shaft and being selectively engageable with said keeper members for maintaining the door within the opening, one of said keeper engaging members having a vertical guide opening therein, a vertically movable latch bar mounted along said hollow shaft and slidable in said vertical guide opening of said keeper engaging member, one of said throw-out arm portions having a vertical channel portion, said latch bar at its lower end being selectively movable into and out of locking engagement with said channel portion whereby to lock the door to said one throw-out arm member to permit conjoint movement of the door and said throw-out arm members without relative movement therebetween, latch lifter means cooperating with the upper end of said latch bar for selectively elfecting vertical movement thereof and being pivotally mounted within the confines of said first handle section, and said second handle section upon pivotal movement effecting actuation of said latch lifter means.

49-219 12/1938 Fuchs 40219 

1. FOR USE WITH A VERTICAL WALL HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN AND A DOOR MOVABLE INTO AND OUT OF THE OPENING, THE COMBINATION OF HORIZONTAL GUIDE MEANS MOUNTED ON THE WALL ABOVE AND BELOW THE OPENING, VERTICALLY EXTENDING OPERATING MEANS COMPRISING A HALLOW SHAFT MOUNTED ON THE DOOR AND ROTATABLE ABOUT A VERTICAL AXIS, HANDLE MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ROTATING SAID HOLLOW SHAFT, UPPER AND LOWER THROW-OUT ARM MEMBERS, UPPER AND LOWER CARRIAGE MEANS ENGAGING SAID GUIDE MEANS FOR LENGTHWISE MOVEMENT THEREALONG AND PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE ONE ENDS OF SAID THROW-OUT MEMBERS, SHAFT MEANS EXTENDING COAXIALLY THROUGH SAID HOLLOW SHAFT AND FIXEDLY SECURED AT ITS OPPOSITE ENDS TO THE OTHER ENDS OF SAID THROW-OUT ARM MEMBERS TO SUPPORT THE DOOR WHILE ACCOMMODATING RELATIVE MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE DOOR AND SAID THROW-OUT ARM MEMBERS, UPPER AND LOWER KEEPER MEANS MOUNTED ON THE WALL, UPPER AND LOWER KEEPER ENGAGING MEANS FIXED TO SAID HOLLOW SHAFT AND BEING SELECTIVELY ENGAGEABLE WITH 